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14 Nov 2009If you don’t know what ‘phishing’ is, it’s time to make yourself aware. ‘Phishing’ is a common technique used by scammers today.
What is ‘phishing’? Phishing is when scammers trick unsuspecting victims into giving up their personal information or even bank account numbers. The way they trick victims is by sending out fake emails or setting up fraudulent websites that appear legitimate, asking you to input your information. These types of scams are from the 90s but are still popular today.
Advanced scammers often use the same logos and designs as real-world companies so as to appear legitimate. These ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’ will then trick victims out of their information by directing them to a website asking them to input their information. Those who fall for this scam often do so because they are unaware of the scam and have done business with the company before, so they don’t think anything of receiving an email or link from the company.
Phishing scams affect business owners as well as consumers. Businesses who have a online presence are likely to feel the effects of such crimes as victims, but not in the same way consumers do. Consumers now are more careful with what information they give to online merchants and organizations, often hurting legitimate online sources. The Federal Trade Commission encourages such vigilance and works to root out those scammers who take advantage of the system.
Not every website can be trusted, even though most credit card companies accept online applications. Before submitting any sort of online application, check the company’s reputation and make sure they’re a legitimate company. The Better Business Bureau rates companies based on their track record and allows consumers to make complaints. Even if you don’t find anything bad about a company, that doesn’t mean everything is fine. Do your research and find out for yourself.
Another important tip is using a site that operates on a secure server. You can easily tell the difference between a safe site and a not-so-safe site if you know what to look for. First, the URL should say ‘https://.’ The ‘s’ at the end of ‘https://’ means the site is secure. There will also be a tiny icon that looks like a lock in the bottom right side of your browser window. The site is safe when it is in the ‘locked’ position.
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